Unexplained Infertility and BFP??

[Lionfish]

Hi I have been diagnosed with Unexplained infertility.
I am in a place where I am not sure what my next step should be. Seems I have tried everything.
Any suffers of unexplainned infertility that have been able to concieve and how did you do it? IVF or natural using any alternative treatments?
I am hoping this info might help me decide what to do next.
Thank you

[barney]

good luk hun

[mollycat]

Back in 1996 I was diagnosed with "unexplained infertility". I was prescribed clomid and fell pg on my third cycle. Since my DS2's birth (way back in 1997), I have never used birth control and have had other attempts at clomid with no success. In 2006 I was diagnosed with PCOS, prescribed metformin (diaformin), weight loss, more clomid, had polyps removed, diagnosed with endo, more clomid. In 2007, one month after taking clomid (didn't fall on clomid - i think i had five cycles then) I fell pg, however this ended in m/c. Been on clomid again since then and also on tamoxifen (which is used like clomid for infertility) still TTC.

Good luck with whatever option you choose.

[Maruschke]

Lionfish so sorry to hear of your struggle and frustration . What have you tried so far?

[Lucy]

Lionfish,

I was diagnosed with unexplained infertility back in 2003, after DH and I had been TTC for 3 years.

So I feel your frustration, I really do.

We then moved to Darwin, I changed jobs, adopted a much healthier lifestyle, and investigated all sorts of "alternative" options, as our last ditch attempts prior to AC.

The things we tried were:

~ Lunar fertility timing
~ Use of real raw eggwhite
~ A small dose of asprin daily pre-ovulation
~ Newtons Pregnancy Drops
~ High doses of EPO

I concieved Olivia in the month that we did ALL the above.

(Charlie and Lexie were then concieved no problem)

Take care xx

[Cuddlepie]

Hi Lionfish

Sorry you have been thrown into the 'hard basket' - unexplained infertility, that's what I called and obviously had same experience on that front.

We have been trying for 5 years now and have gone through various test but basically we were told that everything is normal. Have been through 2 stim IVF cycle now and 1FET and just in the middle of the 2 FET at the moment.

During the time that I recoperating between cycles, I went on sharkey's chinese herbs as well as seeing an acupuncturist. Some points came through from them have never been mentioned by my GP or FS, such as I have predominant estrogen and low progestrone and my husband's sperm although fit in all normal range, 1 criteria is a bit low on the border (sorry I can't remember which). So she said to me:"it is hardly unexplained, there are reasons there, it seems that 2 things are working 80% there, its not surprised that its not working."

That's my light-bulb moment...usually when we go through medical test, there is a normal range on everything, so as far as we fit in that buffer, we are normal. But that is not say we are perfect. Given perfect fertile couple will only have like 5-10% chance each month, if anything is not working 100% (particularly two factors adding up), this chance will be smashed nearly to nothing or maybe scarily long...so that's why I, although trusting my medical professional, but also turn to unconventional treatment at the same time to optimal our chance if I am making any sense.

Unforturnately, I am unable to give you the successful story you are after as yet but we might have one to tell next month, who knows.

I don't know how long you have been trying and what's your age, but hey I am sure you find the right place to discuss this, BB girls are brilliant...good luck on whatever you may take...

[mbear]

My girlfriend has unexplained fertility. Had been trying for 2yrs. Went onto IVF and on her first cycle conceived - they now have a healthy baby boy....good luck.

[Ellie]

Hi Lionfish
I was diagnosed with unexplained infert...and have done the lot...tracking...chlomid...IUI...IVF....ICSI....an d then gave up! Moved to the country...drank way too much...have been eating way to much...and obviously doing 'it' way too much (hehehe) as here we are 9 weeks pregnant!? Believe in miracles...and follow your intuition...you will know what feels right for you. Wishing you lots of luck xxx

[mbear]

Moved to the country...drank way too much...have been eating way to much...and obviously doing 'it' way too much

....now thats what i call the relaxed approach LOL...what a great story ! Good luck !

[Ellie]

Yeah...the nurse coordinator from my fertility clinic is calling if my 'Alcohol Cycle'...I thought that was funny...after everything we've been through it's good to have a laugh.

[myson]

lionfish. i am in the too hard basket for fertility too! for my first two i just waited and waited and waited, both were concieved while we were away on holidays and not stressing about babies. It took 2 yrs for each of them.

this time round i am a lot older, 10 yrs older, so i dont have the luxury of waiting. I am on clomid and now in the tww for the first time in almost a decade.

GL with whatever you choose... when fertility is lost for unexplained reasons then it can also return for unexplained reasons!

[Lionfish]

Thanks for all your replies.
It has been 3 years and I have tried 3 x IUI and 3 x IVF and all the natural therapies you can think of. I just dont know who to talk to about my next move as if I go to the FS they will say only option is IVF again. But it is sounding more hopeful with the ladies that have had it happen naturally. Congrats by the way for getting your BFPs and lovely Bubs.

[Nicole S]

Hi Lionfish, I don't have any success stories for you but want to wish you all the best and hope your BFP is just around the corner.
I too have been TTC for just over 3 years and every month it feels like you are hitting your head against a

[satya]

Have you tried eliminating trans fats from your diet?

I was diagnosed with unexplained infertility over 10 years ago (with my ex). In 8.5 years I had 1 short lived pregnancy (which took 3 years to achieve). Clomid didn't work for me. Ruth Sharkey didn't work for me. My FS advised me my best option was to try IVF - we didn't.

Fast forward to two years ago. My new DF managed to talk me into giving TTC another go. I didn't think I had much chance due to my history. A few months went by without success.

I did a lot of research and found that a diet high in trans fats are thought to cause infertility in some women. My diet was not exactly the best so I started to elimate them from my diet. No biscuits, cakes, donuts, take away food, butter - the list goes on. Avoided margarines and oils that were high in trans fats - swithced to olive oil spread. Everyone thought I was mental. Before I bought or ate anything I'd scan the nutritional panel to see if it contained transfat - if it did contain any more than a trace of it I wouldn't eat it.I thought it was worth a try. I also avoided caffeine.

Nine months after starting to TTC (a few months after starting to eliminate trans fats from my diet) I became pregnant but suffered an early loss. About 4 months later I was pregnant again and had another early loss. That was to be expected, afterall I was 41 at the time and the odds of a successful pregnancy were only around 5%. My gyno said my only chance of a successful pregnancy at my age was to try IVF. I wasn't keen on doing it. I had been taking

About 3 months later I was pregnant again. I was still avoiding transfats but was consuming huge amounts of caffeine as I was under huge stress at that time and was pretty much addicted to coffee to get me through my day. I wasn't taking any vitamins and had stopped using EPO to increase CM as we were not actively TTCing. This one stuck. Our little miracle will be 7 weeks old on Monday and he was born one month after my 42nd birthday. So much for IVF being the only way for us to succeed!!!!!

If your diet does contain transfats I encourage you to have a go at eliminating it. You never know it just might work for you.

[Lenny]

Sweetie, I'm not going to tell you to relax or go on holiday or get a puppy!!!

Are you 100% comfortable with the label 'Unexplained'. My FS always says that (some high percentage) of unexplained infertility is actually some underlying problem that hasn't actually been found.

I know you have been through a lot, but is there a chance of seeing a new FS and asking for them to start again (not just review someone elses work).

Did you know that DH passed at least 4 SAs and then finally we got told that he had shocking morphology results and then we had to add icsi to the mix.

I know you have done a lot already, so i understand totally if you just can't stand the thought of more poking and prodding. Maybe Ellie's alcohol cycle - it sounds more fun

Jo

[diva det]

I have unexplained infertility- all my tests and DH come up hunky dory, but no answer why we couldnt get pg. We havent used b/control since 2000 with not even a bite!
Been trying to get our family done since 2000.

Have done 6 Cycles of IVF from 2000 with the last one 2007. Did clomid, Laps, ISCI and FET. I also did natropath, reflexology, osteopath, endochronogists and anyone else who said they could cure me!

Was waiting for AF to show up 13 weeks ago so we could get cracking on cycle number 7 and it didnt show- I GOT PG NATURALLY!!!!!

Only thing i did different was actpunture . He said i wasnt getting enough blood to my uterus. I was ovulating on time, but my endoritium was ready at the same time and they were missing each other. He said it would take six months to fix- and it did!!!


Good luck unexplained infertility is soo frustrating as there is nothing they can find wrong that they can fix!
hang in there

odette

[myson]

since joining bb i am quite surprised to hear how many people are getting good results from acupunture and chinese medicine. i am usually the world biggest sceptic... but now...???

[Megan]

Lionfish, I was also diagnosed "unexplained". I've done a few ivf cycles with one early m/c.
February I did a fet cycle which was unsuccessful so I decided to see a naturopath until I was ready to go back for stim #4. I started seeing her in April and last week I got a BFP. After doing some charting, she felt that I o'd too late and that my eggs would not be good quality at around day 20 when it was happening. She put me on some herbs to move O back (which it did straight away to day 17), and my 2nd month ovulating at day 17 and we have a BFP!! We have never been pregnant naturally, so it was a complete surprise.
I have always ovulated late, but the Dr's only ever tested to make sure that I ovulated, not when and obviously not the quality of my eggs when I O'd naturally.